Project Management Software For Education Buyers Guide
Last updated: September 26, 2023
Nowadays, no one can deny the importance of constant learning and upskilling in organizational settings. The competitive industrial landscape ensures that new concepts/skills acquisition remains at the forefront of business admins’ priorities for the foreseeable future. And nothing helps in concretizing this reality quite like the modern slate of education project management software.
Didactic tools that are not only meant for holding online classes in schools or colleges – but for regulating lessons for organizational backdrops of all orientations.
Sure, there are several popular online platforms available to enable the professional learning process. But many of these, like Coursera and Udemy, are confining in terms of the academic programs/curricula they offer. A ‘cap’ that does not suit many companies looking to introduce their own set of programs for their student beneficiaries (pretty much all of us!).
To this end, dedicated – and ideally paid – project management tools for educational project administration provide the best solution.
But as we’ve mentioned in several of our other buyer guides, there’s no shortage of suitable project management software options available on the internet highway. You need an expert signpost to guide you in the right direction; saving you precious time, currency, and sanity.
This write-up is geared to do just that: be your ‘yellow brick road’ on the path to the best educational project management tool – providing answers to such concerns as:
Let’s get you empowered with our experiential take.
Defining educational project management tools
Educational project management tools, simply put, are digital platforms delivered in both online and offline capacities that:
Enable educational institutes to envision, strategize, execute, monitor, and improve – via established feedback mechanisms – their administered learning programs (with a view to bettering the learning outcomes of their charges; provide more streamlined, systematic, support to tutors via their lessons outreach).
Learning, as every reader can attest, requires such things as successful communication/collaboration (the vehicle of knowledge delivery), document management, and task management (ensuring all due assignments get completed on time and in alignment with instructions) for success.
A solid project management solution facilitates all this and more.
Why organizations need dedicated project management
Furthering the above argument, it’s clear that solid organization is crucial to the viability of educational project executions.
Here, the unavoidable and vital role of human input is also worth noting, however.
Even with the onslaught of AI and machine-learning innovations/tool integrations that characterize the general project management field, human creativity – chaotic yet revolutionary – continues to bear no equal. And when it comes channeled through the right organizing mediums, it becomes an unstoppable tour de force guaranteed to give any business concern its much-needed, evolving, edge.
Another benefit of project management tools in education-related verticals comes in the form of their stellar service testing and improvement protocols.
Consider the case of a newly launched learning regime in the pilot stage – with each of its offerings monitored for their budgetary toll and benchmarks-fulfilling efficacy. Say the project managers in charge are tasked with justifying the program’s results in line with its expense. A robust project management tool, primed for such constant surveillance, can greatly ease the task management goals of such officials (who need to continually report to their stakeholders).
Scholastic enterprises/academic projects, further, are generally dynamic things. They need to account for and adapt to new pedagogical (teaching) methods for more effective learning deliveries. Some of the best project management tools come equipped with modules that always remain susceptible to these domain advances; updating their wares so their users are kept ahead of the curve.
Education Project Management Tool – Key Features
Although there are obvious differences between the bulk of industry-leading platforms available (which tie in with their USP objectives), most education project management tools offer similar design and function bases to their users.
A thorough assessment of these commonalities – as given here – makes for a great start to the subscription journey (making potential project managers cognizant of what they’d be in for).
Typical Project Management Software for Education Features
* Advanced project management solution features; may be unavailable in some basic-subscription/free plan education project management software suites. This listing is not exhaustive. |
The following third-party app integrations also feature prominently alongside a number of these tools:
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Zoho Projects
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Office 365
among others.
Picking the right software solution for educational project management
Here’s where we come to the more actionable part of the piece: our five-point criteria for shortlisting the best project management tools for your educational initiatives in a (proverbial) heartbeat!
All you need to do is simply weigh each of your software contenders against the formula cues given. The tool with the most criterion ‘checks’ is your clear winner.
Once you’ve narrowed your pick to one platform, head on over to its dedicated Software Finder profile page using our search bar at the top of this page (enter software name and go).
Education Project Management Software Evaluation List
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Here, you want to pay special attention to the given ‘Get Pricing’ and ‘Demo’ offers: free amenities that allow you to gain a solid understanding of the tool before committing to any contract or subscription arrangement (involving payments) – a pro tip.
Also, in case you come up with a tie between competing software, read through their profile pages in detail. A much quicker, alternative, route here is to get in touch with our helpline representatives for some targeted, instant advice (number mentioned at the top of this page).
If you’re completely unaware of your options, please head on over to the section after next to go through our curated list of field toppers.
Pricing: What to Expect
When starting with educational/learning project management, you can always begin by confirming availability and going for a free service plan.
But if you want even a relatively modest degree of ‘fire power’ to boost your workflow (give you the time-saving competitive advantage sought), we highly recommend considering a paid subscription.
Here, you should expect to pay anywhere in the following range:
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Paid plans start at $5/month per member to upward of $500/month (for unlimited users) |
The lower, ballpark, figure values correspond with starter plan options with limited, uncapped, features.
To get accurate, custom, plan pricing details and recommendations based on your exact company size and requirements, check out our Project Management Software Pricing Guide for 2023.
Out Top 5!
If you’re in a fix about where to even begin with your software search, we’ve got you covered with our top education PM tool picks.
You’re strongly recommended to go with these to gain a quick workflow automation headstart.
Listing in no order of priority:
- Monday
- Trello
- HeySpace
- ProofHub
- Basecamp
Let’s explore each in brief detail.
Monday
Monday project management software covers most, if not all, aspects of workflow planning and execution that are required across various industries, including education management. The platform's user interface is worker-friendly and comes with exceptional performance capabilities that make it a valuable tool in any workspace.
Pricing
- Free (starter-friendly)
- Basic: $8*/seat/mo.
- Standard: $10*/seat/mo.
- Pro: $16*/seat/mo.
- Enterprise: Contact Our Helpline to Confirm Pricing (number above)
* Ballpark figures; go to our Monday.com Software Profile Page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your learning project.
Features
- Uniform Projects/Tasks Management (enables education project managers to oversee workflows from one dashboard view)
- Client Collaborations (ensure that team workers and project workflows are all aligned with changing client expectations)
- Worker/Client Requests Management (allows managers to receive and resolve their teams’/clients’ requisitions in record time!)
Pros/Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy, crisp, interface; excellent for non-techies/busy learners/teachers to hit the ground running |
Customer Service Lags |
| Calendar integrations – ensure timely workflow processing |
|
| Cost-Competitive; Affordable |
Project Dashboard View
Trello
Trello is a visual collaboration tool used by educators worldwide to help with project management. It allows teachers and students to easily plan coursework, collaborate with faculty, and organize classrooms. The platform provides boards and templates that can be customized to fit the needs of any project or classroom. It also offers discounts for non-profits and educational institutions.
Pricing
- Free (starter-friendly)
- Standard: $5*/user/mo.
- Premium: $10*/user/mo.
- Enterprise: $17.50*/seat/mo.
* Ballpark figures; go to our Trello Software Profile Page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your learning project.
Features
- Visual Collaboration (Trello provides a visual platform to help teams collaborate more effectively. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, users can easily create boards and assign tasks to team members. This makes it easy to keep track of progress and ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to project goals and deadlines)
- Automation (The platform also offers automation tools that allow users to automate certain tasks and workflows. This helps streamline processes, saving time and effort while ensuring accuracy in data entry and task completion. Automation also helps reduce manual errors, making it easier to stay on top of projects without having to constantly monitor progress or manually enter data)
- Templates (Trello offers a range of templates that can be used to quickly set up projects or tasks with pre-defined settings such as due dates, checklists, labels, and more. This makes it easy for educators to quickly get started with their projects without having to spend time setting up each task or workflow from scratch)
Pros/Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable; feature-rich free version | Concerns reported with Kanban Boards |
| User-friendly interface: field top-rated! | |
| Excellent customer service |
Trello Dashboard View
HeySpace
HeySpace is a task and project management software designed to help educational institutions manage their projects efficiently. It offers features such as task and project management, communication and collaboration tools, calendar management, contact management, content management, discussions/forums, document management, real-time editing, and brainstorming.
Pricing
- Standard: $5*/user/mo.
* Ballpark figures; go to our HeySpace Software Profile Page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your learning project.
Features
-
Task Management (HeySpace allows users to easily create tasks, assign them to team members, and track progress. It also provides tools for setting deadlines, tracking time spent on tasks, and creating reports. This makes it easy to stay organized and ensure that projects are completed on time)
-
Communication (The platform offers a variety of communication tools such as chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and more. This makes it easy for teams to stay connected and collaborate on projects from anywhere in the world)
- Collaboration (HeySpace provides a range of collaboration tools such as task boards, Kanban boards, calendars, and more. These make it easy for teams to work together on projects by providing an overview of progress and allowing everyone to contribute their ideas in real-time)
Pros/Cons
| Pro | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great Kanban Visualizations |
Good Mobile App |
| Feature-Rich | |
| User-Friendly |
HeySpace Dashboard View
ProofHub
ProofHub provides an integrated platform for managing projects and teams in education. It offers several features including task management, Gantt charts, time tracking, and team collaboration. The solution is cloud-based, making it easy for teams to stay organized and on top of their tasks.
Pricing
-
Essential: $45*/mo.
- Ultimate Control: $89*/mo.
* Ballpark figures; go to our ProofHub Software Profile Page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your learning project.
Features
-
Project Views (ProofHub provides multiple project views such as table, Gantt, board, calendar, and several other personal views to help teams easily visualize their projects. This helps them to stay organized and keep track of tasks and deadlines)
-
Collaboration (With the platform's collaboration tools, teams can easily communicate with each other in real-time. They can also create discussion threads for specific topics or tasks to ensure everyone is on the same page)
- Integrations (ProofHub integrates with popular third-party applications like Dropbox, Google Drive, Slack, Zapier, and more so users can access all their files from one place and manage their projects efficiently)
Pros/Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Streamlined Workflows | Requires more background templates |
| Affordable | |
| Stellar Record-Keeping |
ProofHub Dashboard View
Basecamp
Basecamp education project management tool offers free access to teachers and students along with a 10% discount for non-profits and charities. Using the software, educators can create virtual spaces to organize group projects, use educational tools such as Science Bootcamp in the classroom or for pull-out interventions, manage online education projects, and more.
Pricing
- Standard: $15*/user/mo.
- Pro Unlimited: $299*/mo.
* Ballpark figures; go to our Basecamp Software Profile Page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your learning project.
Features
-
Task Management (Basecamp makes it easy to create tasks and assign them to team members. You can also set due dates, add notes, and attach files so everyone has all the information they need to complete their work on time)
-
Real-Time Communication (With the real-time chat feature, you can quickly communicate with your team without having to send emails or wait for responses. This makes it easier to stay on top of tasks and get feedback from colleagues promptly)
- Discounts for Teachers & Students (Basecamp offers discounts for teachers and students, as well as a free 30-day trial – no credit card required. This makes it more affordable for educators who want to take advantage of its project management tools)
Pros/Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| One-space File Storage | Requires a time-tracking feature |
| Simple Pricing Structure | |
| Custom Notifications/Settings |
Basecamp Dashboard View
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is education project management?
Education project management is the process of planning, organizing, and executing projects in the education industry. It involves managing resources, timelines, budgets, and stakeholders to ensure that projects are completed within scope, on time, and within budget.
Q. What is classroom management software?
Educational institutions use classroom management software for a variety of purposes, including creating and managing curricula and lesson plans. This software also assists teachers in monitoring student activity and progress while providing them with feedback. Another benefit is its ability to manage classroom resources such as textbooks and equipment, as well as computers.
Q. What is an education project manager?
Education project managers are responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of scholastic/learning initiatives. They coordinate resources, manage budgets, and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. These officials also collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that all objectives are met.
Q. What are the top 4 major types of educational management?
There are four major types of educational management:
- Centralized vs Decentralized
- External vs Internal
- Autocratic vs Democratic
- Traditional vs Transformational
Centralized education management involves having a single authority or governing body that oversees all aspects of the institution. Decentralized education management, on the other hand, gives more autonomy to individual departments or schools within an organization.
External education management refers to outside organizations or individuals who provide guidance or support for an institution's operations. Internal education management involves those within the organization who are responsible for making decisions about its operations.
Autocratic educational management is characterized by a top-down approach where decisions are made by one person without input from others. Democratic educational management is more collaborative with decisions being made through consensus among stakeholders.
Finally, traditional educational management focuses on maintaining existing systems while transformational educational management seeks to innovate and create new systems that better meet the needs of students and teachers alike.
Q. What are the crucial stages of project management in education?
The crucial stages of project management in education include –
- Planning
This involves setting goals and objectives, identifying resources, and determining a timeline for completion. It also includes creating a plan to ensure that all tasks are completed on time and within budget.
- Execution
This stage involves carrying out the plan created in the planning stage, including assigning tasks to team members, monitoring progress, and making adjustments as needed.
- Monitoring
This involves tracking progress throughout the project and making sure that it is meeting expectations. It also involves evaluating risks and taking corrective action if necessary.
- Closing
This is the final stage of project management in education, which involves completing all tasks and ensuring that all deliverables have been met according to the original plan.
Closing Note
We recognize that selecting an appropriate education (or otherwise) project management software can be an overwhelming task for numerous legitimate reasons.
That's totally ok (normal) – and we're here to help.
All you need to do is get in touch with our helpline representatives at (661) 384-7070 to receive prompt, cost-free, and straightforward suggestions on PM tools that cater to your unique requirements.
We will take care of everything and help you subscribe to your perfect fit in no time!
